Preparing a First Aid Kit for Home or Travel

Abstract & Introduction

Abstract

Pharmacists are often asked to provide advice on which nonprescription products and devices should be standard components of a home first aid kit. Occasionally, they are asked to provide the same kind of advice for first aid kits to be carried on band trips or sports outings, or to be left in an area of high propensity for injury, such as the youth activity room of a church or civic organization.

Introduction

The philosophy of first aid in general is to give the patient immediate care after an accident. First aid may be sufficient alone, or the patient may need to be stabilized to allow transport to a physician without introducing the risk of further injury. In some cases, transport may not be the wisest alternative, and emergency care may be required. This article will deal with the most minor medical conditions, rather than those that require transport.

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First Aid for Insect Stings

When a patient is stung by a bee or other insect, he or she should remove the stinger immediately by scraping it out with a fingernail or wiping a clean piece of gauze over the area. Use of tweezers is not advised since squeezing the stinger forces more venom into the skin. Once the stinger is removed, the area should be washed with soap and water, and ice should be applied to reduce the swelling. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium may effectively relieve the pain and an antihistamine will relieve the itching and swelling. However, if the patient has been stung in the mouth or experiences symptoms of allergy to the insect's venom, including hives, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, wheezing, dizziness or confusion, he or she should seek emergency care. If patients have a known allergy to insect stings, they should consult a physician to discuss carrying a prescription epinephrine self-administration sting kit with them.

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Patient Information

Essential Items for Your Medicine Cabinet/First Aid Kit

Many homes have a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Too often, medicines are placed there and forgotten until some crisis occurs. Then, you must frantically search for a suitable, in-date medication. Your medicine cabinet needs careful attention if it is to be useful for your family.

Where to Store Medicine

Consider relocating your medicine cabinet contents away from humid locations such as the bathroom. The heat and humidity created by showers, baths and heaters degrade medications rapidly. A cool, dry, dark location such as the top shelf of a closet is a better choice. A locked container out of a child's reach is best.

Dispose of Outdated Products

Examine every OTC product presently in your medicine cabinet or first aid kit. If the expiration date has passed, throw it away. Even prepackaged first aid kits have expiration dates. If an OTC item was marketed before expiration dates were required, it is definitely too old to use. Leftover prescription medications may be ground in a garbage disposal or flushed, but do not throw them away whole since others may recover them from dumpsters.

Stock Your First Aid Kit Wisely

Consult your pharmacist for help in restocking your medicine cabinet. As a general rule, you should prepare for several problems. Be sure to read the label of each product thoroughly to be sure it is safe for a patient's age and condition.

Cuts and Scrapes

Keep bandages, adhesive strips, and disinfectants such as alcohol, povidoneiodine, hydrogen peroxide, or an antibiotic ointment containing bacitracin and polymyxin available to prevent infection.

Poisoning. If you have young kids, or young children visit your home (e.g., grandchildren), you should consider keeping syrup of ipecac on hand. However, always call the poison control center before using ipecac to make sure it is appropriate for what the child has ingested.

Sunburn, insects Keep an anesthetic spray (e.g., one containing benzocaine) to relieve of sunburn and discomfort due to insect stings and bites, as well as hydrocortisone, to remove the swelling from insect attack and other problems such as poison ivy and skin allergies.

Aches and pains. Be sure you have acetaminophen for pain, and other analgesics such as naproxen, ketoprofen or ibuprofen for pain or pain accompanied by inflammation. These products also help reduce fever.

Set a Schedule for Reinspection

Reinspect and restock your medicine cabinet/first aid kit at least once a year, as products expire.